Gulf States Urge US to Neutralize Iran Amid Strait of Hormuz Crisis

According to three Gulf sources, the six GCC countries — Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates — have not requested the U.S. to go to war with Iran. Instead, they are pressing for Iran’s military and offensive capabilities to be neutralized, ensuring the Gulf’s oil lifeline and regional economies remain secure.

At the same time, Western and Arab diplomats say Washington is urging Gulf states to support the U.S.-Israeli campaign, with President Donald Trump, ABD Başkanı Donald Trump, seeking regional backing to bolster the campaign’s legitimacy internationally and domestically.

Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center, said, “There is a wide feeling across the Gulf that Iran has crossed every red line with every Gulf country… At first we defended them and opposed the war, but once they began directing strikes at us, they became an enemy.”

Iran has already demonstrated its reach by attacking airports, ports, oil facilities, and commercial hubs in the six Gulf states. Missile and drone strikes have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery carrying around 20% of global oil supplies.

The attacks have reinforced Gulf concerns that leaving Iran with significant offensive weaponry could allow Tehran to hold the region’s energy lifeline hostage whenever tensions escalate.

Gulf states have emphasized calculated restraint. The UAE, for example, stated it does not seek escalation but reserves the right to protect sovereignty, security, and residents’ safety. Gulf leaders fear that unilateral military action could provoke retaliatory strikes, so collective intervention through the GCC remains the preferred approach.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that Gulf partners are “stepping up even more” and are willing to “go on the offense” while cooperating with Washington on integrated air defenses.

Analysts stress that Gulf states face a strategic dilemma: responding decisively to Iranian threats risks drawing them into a U.S.-Israeli-led war, while inaction leaves them vulnerable. Bernard Haykel, professor of Near Eastern studies at Princeton University, said, “Now that Iran has shown it can shut down Hormuz, the Gulf faces a fundamentally different threat. If it’s not addressed, this danger will be long-term.”

Disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz threatens global oil and gas flows, particularly to Asian economies such as China and Japan. Gulf leaders warn that unchecked Iranian actions could damage trade, tourism, and economic stability, making the region less resilient to energy market shocks.